- Lyricist
- Na. Kamarasan
- Singers
- Deepan Chakravarthy, P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Enga Ooru Kavalkaran
- Movie release year
- 1998
- Lyrics added on
- 10 Oct 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic Tamil folk duet expresses romantic intimacy, playful courtship, and the joyous progression of love toward marriage. The lyrics chart love's organic growth—metaphorically comparing it to the natural lifecycle of a plant blooming from a small bud ('arumbu') to a tender blossom ('mottu') and finally a full flower ('poo'). The male protagonist expresses his deep affection for his lady 'Poovaayi', disregarding traditional horoscope matchings in favor of genuine heartfelt love, while the female lover responds playfully, teasingly asking whether she should consult her father before yielding to his affections. In the second half, the song moves toward cozy domestic romance, using rustic imagery like serving warm milk on a mat and feeding an eager, longing heart like a lavish feast. The lyricist Na. Kamarasan weaves evocative rural terminology and tender endearments, capturing the sweet back-and-forth chatter between two lovers preparing to spend their lives together.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Poo pola ponnana poovaayi”
Compares the beloved Poovaayi's gentleness and preciousness directly to a flower using the comparative particle 'pola'.
Gradation / Climax (Adukku Thodar)
“Arumbaagi mottaagi poovaagi”
Uses sequential natural stages of flowering ('arumbu' -> 'mottu' -> 'poo') to depict the gradual deepening of love and maturity.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Pasikku panthiya / Podattuma”
Metaphorically compares emotional and physical romantic yearning ('pasichirukkum nenju') to physical hunger needing a feast ('panthi').
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Paaivirichu naan padutha / Paal yeduthu vaadipulla”
Repetition of the initial 'P' sound ('Paaivirichu', 'Paal', 'Palakkadhaiya', 'Pasichirukkum') creates musical cadence across lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the movie 'Enga Ooru Kavalkaran' was released in 1988, its soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja remains one of the defining rural folk albums of 1980s Tamil cinema. Sung by Deepan Chakravarthy and P. Susheela, this track showcases lyricist Na. Kamarasan's flair for blending modern poetic sensibility with rich Tamil rural folklore imagery.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Enga Ooru Kavalkaran
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.